Free Republic

ARLINGTON -- Former President George W. Bush received a strong standing ovation from Rangers fans as he walked to the mound on Monday afternoon at the Ballpark in Arlington to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. Bush was joined at the mound by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and three military heroes: Gen. Jeffery Hammond of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, 1st. Sgt. David McNerney of Houston -- winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor in Vietnam -- and Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, winner of the Navy Cross for heroism in Afghanistan. Bush threw a strike...

Baseball is Back! Play Ball! I miss this man.

As Major League Baseball showcased its stars in famed Yankee Stadium, the player who emerged from the All-Star break as the biggest star of all, Texas Ranger outfielder Josh Hamilton, spent most of his time pointing to someone greater than himself. Hamilton, whose career and his life were nearly ended by drug addiction, wowed the masses in person and on TV during Monday night's Home Run Derby, but he used his national platform to give credit to God for his athletic ability. "I can't believe what God has done in my life and how quickly He has done it," Hamilton...

-Attack on Americans on private ranch may signal shift in Laredo-area violence- I'm surprised it hadn't happened sooner, hunters being attacked or kidnapped along the border. The news that Laredo businessman Librado Piña Jr., his son and three other men were kidnapped Sunday from Piña's ranch just across the border in Coahuila was shocking in the brazen way the attack was carried out. Less surprising was the fact that it happened. According to news reports from Laredo, Piña, his son Librado Piña III, David Mueller of Roscoe, plus Fidel Rodriguez Cerdan and Marco Ortiz were taken hostage by a group...

I recently came across the following prayer written many years ago by a chaplain of the Texas Rangers. It seemed a fitting prayer for our service men and women today (with the references to Texas obviously substituted for less pleasant theaters of combat), and I'd like to share it with any fighting men and women among us on FR: The Texas Ranger Prayer O God, whose end is justice, whose strength is all our stay, be near and bless my mission as I go forth today. Let wisdom guide my actions, let courage fill my heart and help me Lord,...

Was Texas built on ethnic cleansing? Assertions in book by an Oklahoma history professor might rile proud Texans. By Mike Cox SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN Sunday, November 20, 2005 Last summer, while I was visiting my bookseller friend Felton Cochran in his San Angelo bookstore, he picked up a copy of the fall University of Oklahoma Press catalog and with clear disdain showed me a blood red photograph of a Comanche chief wearing a U.S. Cavalry hat with a star on its crown. The "X" in the word "Texas" had been superimposed over the Indian's face in red ink. "Have...

Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers apologized Wednesday for last week's tirade against two TV cameramen that sent one to the hospital and prompted a police investigation, but said he has not decided if he will go to next week's All-Star game. Rogers, who is appealing his 20-game suspension for the outburst, apologized to fans and the cameramen in his first public comments since the June 29 episode. He declined to take questions, and said he was speaking against the advice of his lawyer. "I feel compelled to come before you and express my deep regret for my actions," Rogers said....

Breaking in DFW, Texas Rangers Pitcher Kenny Rodgers attacks Fox Reporter and others. Did anyone in the DFW area just see it on the news? Reporters have the right to be on the field.. He totally lost his cool. One reporter left on a stretcher. Charges will be filed.

Instead of pitchers and catchers, the opening of baseball's spring training seemed preoccupied by syringes and steroids. One day after stores began selling former American League MVP Jose Canseco's book of doping allegations, the New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds opened their training camps. In his first press conference, Yankees manager Joe Torre faced a torrent of questions about the proliferation of performance-enhancing drugs in America's pastime, with the subject taking the first half-hour of the 45-minute session: "It doesn't go away, unfortunately." In light of the quick sales of Mr. Canseco's new book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant...

Just saw the ad for the upcoming Interview with Jose Canseco, this Sunday on 60 Minutes. Big surprise they booked him, seeing as he said Bush knew about all the Steroid usage while he was the Managing Partner of the Texas Rangers.

As Memogate moves out of the journalistic fiasco phase and into a more legalistic phase, the strength of CBS Legal’s Felony Abatement Plan (also known to prosecutors as ‘tampering’) will be put to test. There is ample evidence of criminal intent by CBS both pre-broadcast and post-broadcast. One as-yet unrealized consequence (other than to CBS Legal) is that communications between a lawyer and client are no longer privileged when the subject matter is furthering a crime or a fraud. The Texas forgery code provides that publication of two or more fake government documents is a felony. Hence, discussions between CBS...

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has launched a criminal investigation into forged military records allegedly obtained from President Bush's National Guard file that were aired by CBS News two weeks ago, referring a congressional request for the probe to the investigative division of the Texas Rangers. "On Wednesday 52 Republican congressman urged the Texas attorney general and the U.S. attorney in Lubbock to investigate who created a bogus document at the heart of the now-discredited CBS News story accusing Bush of shirking his Guard duty," the Fox News Channel's Major Garrett reported. The congressional letter read in part: "We request...

Brit Hume reported that a gaggle of Congressional Republicans have written a letter to the Texas Attorney General, suggesting that he open an investigation to determine if state or federal laws were violated in Rathergate.The AG says he has referred the matter to the Texas Rangers.Sounds like there is justice a comin..Ace of Spades justice, that is.

Frankie Francisco deserves mercy By RANDY GALLOWAY Fort Worth Star-Telegram FORT WORTH, Texas - Frankie has done wrong. He threw that chair. He missed the big mouth sitting behind the bullpen, but hit the guy's wife. Blood happened. A nose broke. An arrest was made. Frankie had to go downtown. He posted bail. The woman hired a lawyer. The lawyer is louder than the woman's husband. If I read him right, the Rangers' bullpen was on a meth-crazed rampage that night. Sounds like a civil lawsuit is coming. Imagine that. It's about the money. The commissioner of baseball has yet...

Texas reliever Frank Francisco was arrested Tuesday morning on a charge of aggravated battery after he threw a chair into the right-field box seats and hit two spectators in the head during Monday night's loss to the Oakland Athletics. One of the fans, an unidentified woman, was bloodied and her nose was broken. Major League Baseball's commissioner's office said Tuesday morning that it was investigating. Francisco was co-operative after he was taken into custody, Oakland Police Department deputy chief Peter Dunbar said. Related Info Texas reliever hurls chair at A's fans With two outs in the ninth inning, the Rangers'...

EDINBURG — With general voting in the primary election just days away, the Texas Rangers have begun an investigation of the mail ballot fraud allegations that arose last week. Texas Ranger Sgt. Israel Pacheco said he started his inquiry Thursday after meeting with Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Teresa Navarro to get details of the complaints. There is no deadline for this investigation, Pacheco said. "We’ll just be looking into things as they come." Two voters in McAllen and two in Weslaco, all older than 65, complained that when their mail ballots arrived, they were already sealed and included a note:...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... . U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. . . Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family...

ProtestGayDay.com Exists To Protect & Preserve Our Innocent Youth Against The Homosexual AgendaProtest or PRAY with us at the Ballpark in Arlington at 6:00 pm on Sunday, Sept 14th.Game Start Time Is 7:05 pm - Protest Organizes at 6:00 pm  Click Here to Sign Our PetitionThe Straight Truth About ProtestGayDay.com& “TEXAS RANGERS TO HOLD GAY DAY”At The Ballpark In Arlington. Words In Quotations Taken From The Gay & Lesbian Newspaper Article    Mike Cramer, who is the President of Operations with the Texas Rangers organization, has repeatedly refused to address the article in the Dallas Voice Newspaper stating, “Gay Day at the Ballpark will be the first...

Rebel Texas Democrats to Hold Conference By CONNIE MABINAssociated Press Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP)--State troopers and the elite Texas Rangers were ordered to track down and bring in 59 Democratic lawmakers who brought the Texas House to a standstill Monday by going into hiding.The quorum-busting boycott capped months of tension between Democrats and the newly-in-control Republicans over a bill to limit lawsuits and a GOP budget that would make deep spending cuts without raising taxes.It also came just before scheduled debate on a congressional redistricting plan Democrats say was forced onto the agenda by Republican leaders in Washington.GOP House Speaker...

Big catch: Pudge signs with Florida Marlins Former Ranger gets 1-year, $10 million deal 01/22/2003 By KEN DALEY / The Dallas Morning News Former Rangers catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Florida Marlins on Wednesday. Rodriguez, a 10-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, was cut loose by the Rangers after the team traded for Cleveland catcher Einar Diaz on Dec. 6. The Rangers did not offer Rodriguez arbitration and paid him $2 million in severance as part of the contract. Rodriguez had discussed a three-year contract with Baltimore before talks broke off...